Old Home Days in New Hampshire
Since its inception over 100 years ago, Old Home Day has continued to be faithfully observed in towns throughout the Granite State.
These annual events, held in the summer or early fall, are organized by local volunteer committees and often include parades, barbecues and potluck suppers, tours of historic homes and gardens, dances, games and music. Why are Old Home Days important and how do they connect you to your community in the 21st century?
The history of Old Home Days
Governor Frank Rollins developed the concept in 1899 to invite former residents of New Hampshire home at a time when the opening of the West, and lure of urban centers with industrial jobs had depleted New Hampshire’s rural areas. “Towns that had had boasted as many as 2,000 were reduced to under 100, farmhouses were falling into ruin, fields were growing back to brush, and forests were being clear-cut,” according to Tom Curran in his overview of Old House Days produced for the Preservation Alliance. It was a “family reunion at a grand, Victorian scale,” he said.
"Old Home Day was originally envisioned as a celebration of the agrarian way of life and the renewal of old friendships," said Steve Taylor, former N.H. Commissioner of Agriculture, Markets & Food. "These days, it offers an important opportunity to celebrate community life and meet with your neighbors." At its height, over 120 communities celebrated Old Home Days. "Today that sense of belonging seems more important than ever for both young people and older folks," said Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the N.H. Preservation Alliance.
How to get involved in your local community:
Attend an Old Home Day celebration! A list is below. Please send us an email at admin@nhpreservation.org with a link to more information if you know of one missing from the list.
Participate in a Main Street celebration, buy food at a farmer's market or invest in other activities that blend place, history and community.
Help preserve what's special about your community and share it with others: help with a master plan, save or revive an old farm, and tell your friends about old houses for sale.
Gilmanton Old Home Day
Canaan Old Home Day
Hollis Old Home Day
Old Home Days in New Hampshire for 2024 (keep checking back, new dates are added regularly!)
Auburn - Saturday, September 14 - The Auburn Historical Association will be holding its Auburn Day and 31st Annual Duck Race this year on Sept 14, 2024 from 10am until 3pm! The location is the Auburn Village near the Griffin Free Public Library on Hooksett Road.
Boscawen - Saturday, August 24 - Be sure to check out the “Elektrisola Copper 5k Run” on Tuesday, August 20th and the Old Home Day Golf Tournament on Thursday, August 22nd. On the morning of Old Home Day (Saturday the 24th), Main Street will be shut down for a parade. Be sure to stick around after the parade to see performers, information tables and activities at the Boscawen park and Jamie Welch Field. There will also be food trucks on site.
Bridgewater – Saturday, August 17
Bristol – Saturday, August 24
Campton - Saturday, September 28 - Come hang out at CHS for some good eats, music, demos and really cool people. The more the merrier! We will also be repainting Big Al - the moose that stands guard in front of the Campton Town Office complex. 10am - 2pm, 529 Route 175 in Campton
Canaan – Friday-Sunday, August 2-4
Candia – Saturday, August 24
Danbury - Sunday, August 11
Dorchester - Saturday, August 17
Enfield – Friday-Sunday, July 26-28
Epsom – Friday-Sunday, August 9-11
Fitzwilliam - Saturday, October 5 - Fitzwilliam Historical Society will be celebrating history in Fitzwilliam on with a Depot Fun Run, Farmer’s Market, Reenactments, Music, Demonstrations, Contra dance, Raffles, Vendors, Food & Fun from 9am-5pm. Come shop at Emerson school store, Tour our wonderful museum, play 1800's games or watch our demonstrations! Help us celebrate Historic Fitzwilliam! Location: Fitzwilliam Town Common & Depot Route 119 East from Route 12.
Franconia – Saturday, July 13
Freedom – Fri-Sun, July 26-August 4
Gilford – Saturday, August 24
Gilmanton – Saturday, August 17
Hancock - Friday August 16 & Saturday August 17 - 2024 Theme: Adventures in Hancock
Harrisville – Friday-Saturday, July 19-20
Hollis – Friday-Saturday, September 20-21
Hooksett – Saturday, September 21
Hudson – Thursday-Sunday, August 8-11
Kensington - Saturday, August 17
Londonderry – Wednesday-Saturday, August 14-17
Loudon – Saturday, August 10
Middleton - Friday, August 23 - All you can eat, 5:30-8:30
Nashua - Friday, August 17 - Open houses at the Abbot-Spalding House Museum and Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum, 1-3pm. Each location will feature a scavenger hunt!
Nelson - Sunday-Sunday, August 4-11
New Hampton - Saturday, August 10 - Event will be held at the Town House on House Road
Newbury – Saturday, July 13
Newton - Saturday, September 14 - 10am-4pm, 31 West main Street. Join the celebration for music, food, a car show, touch a truck, entertainment, games, raffles, and animals!
Pelham – Saturday, September 14
Pembroke & Allenstown – Saturday, August 24
Pittsburg – Saturday, August 17
Rumney – Saturday, August 10
Salisbury – Friday, August 9
Sanbornton – Saturday, July 13
Sandwich - Saturday, Aug 3-Sunday, Aug 11 - A traditional celebration organized by local residents and visitors including Historical Society exhibits, a parade, farm suppers, tennis tournament and more! Info will be posted at Discoversandwich.com or sandwichnh.org
Swanzey – Saturday, July 20
Warren – Sunday, July 14
Wilton - Saturday-Sunday, August 10-18 - Wilton Old Home Days only come around every 5 years so you won’t want to miss this! There will be multiple parades, horseshoe, cornhole and disc golf tournaments, live music, bingo, trivia, an iron chef competition, a circus performance, golf tournament, and more!
Please sent us any additions or corrections to this list: admin@nhpreservation.org
Pittsburg Old Home Day
Be sure to check out this informative book by Jane Nylander, The Best Ever!: Parades in New England, 1788-1940, with details about the history of celebrations like Old Home Days in New England. You can purchase the book here or at your local bookstore.